Anni Arffman: Terveet sielut / Mens sana
A monumental paper installation.
The artwork was created for an art exhibition held in a building scheduled for demolition, with the theme of health, inspired by the building’s history as a health center. I was given a small lobby space with four opposing windows, which led my thoughts to swimming lanes. I wanted to take advantage of the upper windows in the lobby to backlight paper. My goal was to explore the three-dimensional shadow qualities of paper—how a cut-out human figure would only partially appear through a painted paper swimming pool. I had long wanted to experiment with paper on a large scale, hoping to demonstrate its potential as a material for public art. In paper-based works, placing the piece out of reach is essential, which led me to install the artwork on the ceiling—or rather, just below it—high enough to prevent physical contact. This also gave the swimmers and swimming lanes an ethereal nuance. I was reminded of the old Roman saying: “Mens sana in corpore sano”.
Anni Arffman works across a wide range of disciplines, including painting, site-specific art, and public art. She has also led several community-based art projects and exhibitions.
Information
Artwork finished in:
2024
Light sources, other materials and equipment used:
Natural light, Japanese paper and painted Japanese paper
Dimensions of the work, approximately (width-height-depth):
4 x 4 x 0,5 m, can be adjusted
Approximate dimensions of the work for mailing / sending.:
120 x 100 x 80 cm
Power consumption:
Power current (specification)
Sound in artwork:
no sound
Support and other structures:
The work needs support structures, hanging points, or similar
Structures, hardware and other equipment needed from the client.:
something to hang on the ends of the swimming pools, scaffolding or personnel lift for hanging
Minimum height of the space:
5 m
Minimum square meters of the space:
3,5
Requirements for the space: darkness, temperature, colouring (light / dark / specific colour / other) etc:
natural light or electric light above the piece
Building time and people required (estimate):
2 days, 2 persons
Artist's presence:
Artist or their representative must be present during building
